LAWRENCE, Kan. â For the first time in 21 years, the Kansas Jayhawks are set to welcome the Missouri Tigers to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in the 122nd playing of the StorageMart Border Showdown on Friday night at 7 p.m. CT.
The two teams renewed their rivalry last year after a 14-year absence in Columbia and now the Tigers will return to Lawrence for the first time since dropping 13-3 decision to the Jayhawks in 2005. In that contest, the Kansas defense dominated, holding the Missouri offense to less than 200 yards of total offense, thanks to strong performances from Nick Reid, Aqib Talib, Banks Floodman, Charlton Keith and others.
This yearâs version of the Kansas defense debuted with a very similar performance in the teamâs 51-6 win over Long Island in the season opener. The Jayhawks limited the Sharks to just 146 yards of total offense on 53 plays and didnât surrender a touchdown. Long Island rushed for just 35 yards on 33 carries.
Several defensive players had standout performances in the opener. Defensive end Leroy Harris III, in his second year with the Jayhawks, had four tackles-for-loss, while fellow end David Santaigo added 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble, which he recovered. Trey Lathan posted a sack in his season debut after leading Kansas in tackles a year ago, and Garrett Martin had a pair of tackles-for-loss.
Offensively, quarterback Isaiah Marshall looked comfortable in his first career start, completing 14 of 19 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. He also added 49 yards on the ground. He found a strong connection with receiver Nik McMillan, who had six catches for 130 yards. McMillan, a transfer from Buffalo, finished the year with six straight 100-yard games and extended that streak to seven with his game Friday night. Running back Yasin Willis had 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground in his Kansas debut, and Kansas rushed for 277 yards and five touchdowns as a team.
Missouri also cruised in his season opener, topping Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14. Quarterback Austin Simmons, making his first start at Missouri, threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, and Jamal Roberts had 47 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Roberts had a strong game against Kansas last year, rushing for 143 yards and a score.
The Jayhawks have won seven of the past eight matchups with Missouri in Lawrence. Overall, Missouri leads the longtime series 57-55-9 after a 42-31 win last year in Columbia in a matchup thatâs tied for the 10th-most played rivalry in college football.